New Venue Openings: Glasgow, August 2019

The Ivy

The launch of the first Scottish branch of The Ivy on Glasgow’s “style mile” at the end of July was hard to miss. A large double decker bus covered in ivy had been rolling around the city for most of the month, and now the doors are actually open it's easy to appreciate The Ivy’s high-end appeal. The place is slick, the food is good and the staff are beyond attentive, with live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you can get in before 6.30pm, set menus start at £16.50 for two courses – more than worth it just to sit and pretend you're one of the glitterati. 106 Buchanan St, theivyglasgow.com

Rost

Rost had a deliberately low-key first three months. The latest nightclub to open in Glasgow occupies an almost hidden underground spot on Bell Street and spent its formative months hosting Art School Grad Show after parties and private events. Their strict no-photos policy – complete with stickers to place over the camera lens on your phone – and lack of social media meant it motored along on word-of-mouth reputation only. Recent months have seen them step out of the shadows a little, setting up social media and hosting after-hours events during the Glasgow Jazz Festival. 49 Bell St, facebook.com/rost49

226 Gallowgate

OGs of the Glasgow gig scene will remember the hit-or-miss experience of popping into Baird’s Bar after a night at the Barrowlands. Any pub filling its shoes would certainly struggle to capture the energy of the place, so it’s probably smart that they’ve gone for something entirely different. The renovations have made the most of the original features and the drinks selection is a mix of craft beer, short cocktails, nice wines and a heaving whisky list, while food includes cooked breakfasts and a decent selection of pre-gig sandwiches. 226 Gallowgate, facebook.com/gallowgate

Mikaku

The latest venture from the team behind Ramen Dayo! takes up residence in the Queen Street spot where the first branch of the popular ramen restaurant got underway. Mikaku offers a wider menu of Japanese fare and has been set up with the Izakaya tradition in mind – a staple of the Japanese dining scene where strangers rub shoulders, bonding over drinks and small plates. Inside it's like a futuristic version of a Tokyo street, with cobbles, man holes and theatrical cocktails, and they've conjured a truly original drinks menu, utilising dry ice and garnishes for a memorable drinking experience. 25 Queen St, facebook.com/mikakuglasgow

Fore Play Crazy Golf

Ever yearned to play miniature golf on an adults-only course that has been specifically designed to resemble Glasgow's landmarks? Us either, but it’s a surprisingly enjoyable experience. The place is colourful and fun – trying to roll a golf ball through the metal of the iconic Finnieston Crane or past the Duke of Wellington, complete with traffic cone, is genuinely a good laugh. And the bar certainly helps get you into the spirit of things if you’re not a natural golfer, while food is also on offer from Edinburgh street food faves Prague Shack. 124 Portman St, foreplaycrazygolf.co.uk

Namu

After two years parked round the corner on Beith Street, dishing up Korean fast food to a mix of students and West Enders, Korean street food truck Namu have earned permanent digs on Dumbarton Road. Their menu is largely unchanged, with gyoza, sushi, noodles and rice bowls all featuring, but having a larger kitchen to play with changes the possibilities for the Korean outfit which has won the hearts of Partick foodies. 143a Dumbarton Rd, facebook.com/Namu-Korean-Sushi-312063372561427